Inspire and empower: Importance of investing in youth stressed

Dance4Life aims at mobilising youngsters for achieving social change

A celebration event ‘Dance4Life: Pakistan experience’ was held on Wednesday to mark the milestone of reaching out to 50,000 adolescents to inspire and empower them in making healthy and informed choices through an innovative approach. The event was organised by Rutgers WPF Pakistan in collaboration with the Dutch Embassy to showcase work done to educate young people about their reproductive health and rights, according to a press release.

Volunteers, advocates and trainees shared their personal experiences and the positive impact that the project has had on their lives.

Highlighting the importance of provision of the right information at right time to youngsters, the Dutch Embassy Chargé  d’ Affaires Karel Hartogh said that by taking the message of dance4life forward, we enable young people in Pakistan to make healthier choices and to protect themselves from disease and abuse.

Rutgers WPF Country Representative Qadeer Baig highlighted the importance of investing in youth during the crucial years of adolescence. “In order to ensure that they realise and reach their maximum potential, we should invest in them, given the fact that 60 per cent of the Pakistani population is under 25, so that they become not only responsible citizens, but also a part of social justice and change,” he added.

Engaging youth through a four step approach of ‘Inspire, Educate, Activate and Celebrate,’ dance4life initiative aims at leaving a lasting impact on self-awareness and personal learning. Musicians Abdullah Qureshi, Maria Fatima Unera Qureshi and Muneeb Arshad, who are also dance4life ambassadors, inspired the audience through their talks and performances.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2015.